Neria awoke to the feel of familiar strong arms around her, a firm war body pressed firmly against her back. She smiled, as she felt his arms tighten around her slightly, as the man behind her awoke. She laced her fingers, with the hand that was splayed across her stomach, twisting to look back into the honey coloured eyes of her husband.
“Morning, love.” He leaned down to kiss her lips. She didn’t think she could ever get bored of the feel of him against her lips. She could barely believe they were together. It had been far too long since they were able to spend more than a week or two together, before they’d had to run off on a new mission. But, they were retired. She’d found the cure they’d been wishing for. That she had searched so long for.
Twisting in his arms, she turned to face him, pulling him in for a proper kiss. Determined not to waste a single second that they had together. Now that they were able to live together in peace, in their little cottage in Redcliffe. She wanted to make up for all of the time they’d lost when they were both separated and on the road. She could finally have the family that she’d always dreamed of having with him.
A short while later, as they lay basking in the afterglow. Wrapped in each other’s arms, Neria’s mind began to wander. Thinking about all they’d gone through to get where they are. The blight, the darkspawn, the cure. Her frown furrowed slightly, as she realised that she couldn’t remember what the cure was.
“Alistair?” She asked, pulling away from his embrace to look into his eyes. “What was the cure?”
“Well, it was the cure. For the taint.” He replied, glibly. “You found it, you never explained exactly what it was.”
That didn't sound right, she searched her mind again. Finding gaps in her memories. Memories that didn’t quite fit. “This isn’t real.” She determined. “But, it seems so real.” She sat up, determined to find something that explained this. Something that made it real. Because she needed it or some version of it to be real. But, she’d done this before. Not this exact scenario, but she remembered the circle, the sloth demon. This felt almost like this. But, she needed to be sure.
---
Neria cuddled further into the warm body beside her. Reluctant to leave the warmth of their bed, even though she knew they had a million and one things to do around the farm. Collect the eggs and milk the cows being right up there. But, she also knew they only had a few minutes before they’d be interrupted.
She planted a firm hand on the chest she’d previously been using as a pillow, and levered herself up to look down into the face of the man she loved. Her husband looked asleep, but she leaned down to capture his lips with her own. He quickly responded, his arms wrapping around her, showing that he was clearly enjoying their brief period of respite, as she was.
“We don’t have much time until the horde descends.” She said seriously, as she tangled her hands through his blonde hair.
“I’m not sure you can really call them a horde.” He chuckled, as he peppered kisses down her throat.
She closed her eyes, leaning her head back as she stifled a low moan in her throat. “Cullen, I…” She started to say, as the door to their bedroom banged open, and two small bodies jumped on the bed.
“Mummy! It’s time for breakfast!” A small voice shouted near her ear, as she suppressed a smile. Planting a quick kiss on her Cullen’s lips, she rolled out of bed, pulling her robe around her as she shooed the two small blondes out of the door.
“Definitely a horde.” She smirked, as she followed them out of the door.
A short while later, after she’d sat them down to eat their breakfast, she headed out to the barn. Where she just stood and stared at the cows. “How do I..”, she wondered outloud. She was sure that she’d been doing this every morning for years. But, she couldn’t remember how. How do milk a bloody cow, anyway.
Confused, she leant against the wall. Something was wrong, something was missing. She tried searching her mind. Despite having the knowledge that she had milked cows, that she’d lived on this farm for year. She couldn’t find any specific memories...she realised she didn’t even remember her wedding to Cullen. Just that it had happened.
This wasn’t right, nothing was right. She remembered...New York? That didn’t sound right, where was...oh! She remembered Ellana. This dream was wrong, they.... She didn’t want, no couldn’t have this.
She needed to WAKE UP!
---
Neria awoke with a start, and sat up. Running a hand across her face, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She looked around and realised she was in medical. With a sigh, she reached for the phone which had been left by her bedside, to post onto the network. As she did so, she noticed the time and date, and silently thanked the Maker that she had only been stuck in there just over a day.